How is Beauty represented in Broken Dreams

In my opinion I believe that beauty is represented both positively and negatively in 'Broken Dreams'. Due to the rejection of Maud Gonne, Yeats' seems to attempt to convince himself throughout the poem, that since he had met Maud her natural beauty is decaying. Her youthfulness is slowly disappearing as she is aging with 'grey' hair. This suggests that with time Maud's beauty has withered and the only way Yeats' believes he can get to witness it 'all' is in the 'grave', which he mentions everything will be 'renewed'. This suggests death is the only way that will bring back youth. Yeats still has hope for renewal which he once witnessed with his 'youthful eyes'. When 'Broken Dreams' was published it was Yeats' last proposal to Maud. Yeats's gives the reader the sense he received no love back from Maud as he was left 'muttering like a fool'. Yeats' in some ways blames this on Maud's 'burdensome beauty' as her beauty is seen like a curse in his 'youthful eyes' and with time beauty will wither away and it seems inevitable that this has happened and out of his control. The form represents this in some ways as the poem is written in first person narration which focuses on Yeats' perception, feelings and Maud's beauty. As Yeats' looks back on the past enjambment is used. This represents a fast paced recollection of his 'memories', which Yeats' clearly states and repeats many times that his feelings and opinions are 'nothing but memories'. This suggests that everything he once thought of Maud Gonne is irrelevant as her beauty is decaying along with her life and also himself; as they are both aging. Therefore all that Maud's beauty is to Yeats is 'vague memories' and the idea of men no longer 'catch[ing] there breath' is a reminder of the beauty Maud Gonne once had, however no longer has.

How Yeats shows violence in Leda and the Swan

In Leda and the Swan, Yeats retells the classic Greek myth of the rape of Leda by Zeus in the form of a swan. Yeats shows violence through the use of language and the description of the Swan having "great wings beating still" creates an imagery of somebody being attacked in some form. The word "beating" and “staggering” makes the action seem repetitive which means it must be causing more damage or pain. Also the reader is aware that wings are “beating”, however do not know who the wings belong to. Yeats also uses sexual connotations such as the 'broken wall' which represents the females hymen, being "broken", this explains Leda's experience of being involved in a sexual activity, however in this case it is rape. The description of the “dark” webs also creates a sense of fear, mystery and uncertainty around the Swan. A feminist critic describes the poem as ‘troublesome and potentially repugnant some readers.” I certainly agree with this critic, especially due to the fact I personally believe the poem has glorified the idea of rape which I think is morally utterly wrong!